Sagittata is one of those salvias which came in to Australia with no species name to start with so ‘Mosquito’ was suggested for its airy flowers on black stems.  Betsy Clebsch in her New Book of Salvias said it was found in … Continue reading →

We have had this salvia  from South Africa in Australia for 20 years or so.  It has rough evergreen foliage and frequent long mauve tubular flowers on a small plant about 40cm high.  I imagine it would survive in most of … Continue reading →

When I was at Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens  in Cape Town I was fortunate enough to be invited to collect seed from this plant.   It is a pleasant small perennial evergreen about 40cm high although not simple to propagate.   It sets some seed … Continue reading →

Pictures of salvia sclarea are often found in ancient herb books.  It has been used medicinally in Europe for hundreds of years.   Probably most of the herb  books came from that part of the world so it was often featured.  It is often sold but … Continue reading →

This is a very pretty shrubby salvia which has been in Australia since the early 1990′s.   I first saw it in Betsy Clebsch’s garden and was able to bring some seed home.  It comes from the state of Oaxaca in … Continue reading →

At the time I was getting labels printed I questioned the spelling of this salvia and it was decided that it should be somalensis     but now I believe it should be somaliensis, which is more reasonable.   Coming from Somalia it … Continue reading →

Sometimes people are overwhelmed by the choice so to make it easy to begin I make a special offer of 12 plants for the price of 10, but of MY CHOICE, plus postage. I generally send plants which are the … Continue reading →

Sprucei is a newer winter flowering species.   However it doesn’t like frost which will likely wipe the pink flowers out.   Frost will also keep it shorter than the 3m it could be in its home territory of Ecuador.   (Ecuador is equator … Continue reading →

  Subrotunda is a South American short lived perennial although since it self seeds you are unlikely to lose it.  It was only found this century near Iguassu Falls.   It stands up straight towards a metre with lots of bright orange flowers.  Recently … Continue reading →